Representatives of the Thai Government and the Barisan Revolusi
Nasional (BRN) insurgent group operating in the south began their first
round of peace talks in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur
on March 28.
However, a bombing took place in southern Thailand on the same day, killing three people.
According
to Thai National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut, the
one-day talks focused on reducing bloodshed in the southern region. The
overall peace process would take time, he said, adding that the first
round of talks focused on building mutual trust and good relations.
The
Thai government inked an agreement to start talks with BRN last month
in Malaysia on the sidelines of a visit by Thai Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra.
More than 5,000 people have been killed in Thailand ‘s three southernmost provinces since an insurgency erupted in 2004.
The BRN is one of the groups held responsible by Thailand for the violence.-VNA